Material handling tower using column and stub connections

ABSTRACT

A material handling tower includes a plurality of vertical column trees forming corners of the tower. Each of the plurality of column trees forms a moment connection including a pair of stub connectors. The stub connectors are perpendicular and extend in a direction of an adjacent column tree. Each stub connector has a proximal end welded to the column tree and a distal end having a connecting plate. The tower has at least one interior platform connecting to the plurality of column trees. Each of the at least one interior platforms has a plurality of outer girders with the outer girders connected to the stub connectors of the moment connections. Each girder has a connecting plate at each of its ends and each of the moment connections is completed by connecting the connecting plate of the stub connectors to the connecting plate of the girder.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/203,248 filed Aug. 10, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Invention

This invention relates to a material handling tower, and more particularly, the disclosure concerns a tower constructed with columns having moment connections without diagonal cross braces.

Description of Related Art

Material handling towers are commonly used in the agricultural industry to distribute grain, fertilizer and other products. The towers store the materials in bins high above the ground so that gravity is used during the distribution process. Because of the significant weight of the materials stored in the bins, towers must be designed to support such weight. Typically, towers have included significant diagonal cross bracing to reach compliance with structural requirements.

It would be desirable to have a tower in which lateral loads are resisted by means of frame action providing for no need for diagonal members to take these loads. This would allow for increased flexibility to service and maintain supported equipment on the leveled platforms within the tower. Additionally, erection of the tower would also be simplified.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, one aspect of the invention is directed to a material handling tower in which at least a portion of the tower is constructed without diagonal cross braces. The portion of the tower includes a plurality of vertical column trees forming corners of the tower. Each of the plurality of column trees forms a moment connection including a pair of stub connectors. The stub connectors are perpendicular and extend in a direction of an adjacent column tree of the plurality of column trees. Each stub connector has a proximal end welded to the column tree and a distal end having a connecting plate. The tower has at least one interior platform connecting to the plurality of column trees. Each of the at least one interior platforms has a plurality of outer girders with the outer girders connected to the stub connectors of the moment connections. Each girder has a connecting plate at each of its ends and each of the moment connections is completed by connecting the connecting plate of the stub connectors to the connecting plate of the girder.

The invention is also directed to a method for constructing a material handling tower in which at least a portion of the tower is constructed without diagonal cross braces. The method includes forming a plurality of vertical column trees at the corners of a tower, each of the plurality of column trees forming a moment connection comprising a pair of stub connectors, wherein the stub connectors are perpendicular and extend in a direction of an adjacent column tree of the plurality of column trees, and each stub connector having a proximal end welded to the column tree and a distal end having a connecting plate. The plurality of moment connections on the plurality of column trees form at least one platform connection site. The method also includes forming at least one interior platform at a location remote from the platform connection site. The at least one interior platform includes a plurality of outer girders, wherein each girder has a connecting plate at each of its ends. The at least one interior platform is lifted to the at least one platform connection site so that each one of the connecting plates of the stub connectors is adjacent to one of the connecting plates of the girders. The method also includes completing the moment connections by connecting the connecting plates of the stub connectors to adjacent connecting plates of the girders.

This summary is provided to introduce concepts in simplified form that are further described below in the Description of Preferred Embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the disclosed or claimed subject matter and is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the disclosed or claimed subject matter. Specifically, features disclosed herein with respect to one embodiment may be equally applicable to another. Further, this summary is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Many other novel advantages, features, and relationships will become apparent as this description proceeds. The figures and the description that follow more particularly exemplify illustrative embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features of this invention will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an perspective view of a material handling tower with a column structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the tower of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a portion the tower of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a portion the tower of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5A-C are plan views of portions of the tower of FIG. 1 in various stages of completion; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of an embodiment of the tower of FIG. 1.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The invention will now be described in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein preferred embodiments are described in detail to enable practice of the invention. Although the invention is described with reference to these specific preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. But to the contrary, the invention includes numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents as will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description.

Referring to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a material handling tower 10 supporting one or more material storage bins 12 used for the distribution of various materials such as grains, fertilizer, and the like. As is known in the art, an elevator 14 such as a bucket elevator or a pneumatic conveyor, is used to transport the material from a lower level to a distributor (not shown), which sends the individual materials to their proper storage bin. When desired, the bins 14 are desirably emptied by gravity flow and conveyed, blended and weighted into trucks, railroad cars or barges, and shipped to a desired destination. As the use of elevators, storage bins, distributors, and the accompanying valves, scales and piping are of known design understood to those skilled in the art, further discussion of these items will not be included herein.

The tower 10 of FIG. 1 shows a lower section 20 that includes conventional construction using a plurality of diagonal cross braces 22. The tower 10 also includes an upper section 30, which according to the invention, is free of diagonal cross braces. While the illustrated tower 10 has a conventional portion 20 with diagonal cross braces 22 and a portion 30 without such braces, it is to be understood that the entire tower 10 may be constructed as described below such that diagonal cross braces are not needed.

Turning now to FIG. 2 which illustrates the portion 30 of the tower 10 constructed without diagonal cross braces according to the invention, the tower 10 includes a plurality of vertical column trees 32 forming corners of the tower 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the tower 10 also has column trees 32 located end to end such that there is a lower grouping 34 of column trees 32 and an upper grouping 36 of column trees 32 connected by flanges 38 so as to increase the overall height of the tower 10. Each column tree 32 is formed of a main support column 40 and forms moment connections 42 comprising a pair of stub connectors 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the stub connectors 44 are general perpendicular and extend in the direction of the adjacent column trees 32. A proximal end 46 of the stub connector is welded to the main column 40. A distal end 48 of the stub connector 44 has a connecting plate 50 welded thereto. Desirably, the column trees 32 are fabricated in a shop and transported to the tower site with the stub connectors 44 already welded to the main column 40.

Any number of interior platforms 60 are connected to the column trees 32 at the corners of the tower 10. Each interior platform 60 comprises outer girders 62 that are connected to the stub connectors 44. In the illustrated embodiment, each girder 62 has a connecting plate 64 at its ends. The moment connection is 42 completed by connecting the connecting plate 50 of the stub connectors 44 to the connecting plate 64 of the girder 62 using suitable bolts 66. Other means of connecting the connecting plates may also be used such as suitable rivets, welds or other known joining means using sound engineering judgment. One or more platforms 60 may be connected to each grouping of column trees 32. Referring to FIGS. 5 A-C, desirably, the interior platform 60 is assembled on the ground as shown in FIG. 5B. With the column trees 32 in place as shown in FIG. 5A and forming a platform connection site, the interior platform 60 may then lifted into place at the platform connection site at the appropriate elevation and bolted into place as shown in FIG. 5C. This is advantageous as the work is done at ground level with greater efficiency and erected with greater speed.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment with flange girders 62 and stub connectors 44 while FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment with tubular girders 62 and stub connectors 44. One skilled in the art will understand that other known structural shapes may be used for the girders and stub connectors.

While the illustrated example shows column trees 32 only at the corners of the tower 10, it is to be understood that larger towers may have column trees 32 intermediate the column trees 32 at the corners. Such intermediate column trees 32 would have stub connectors 44 extending generally 180 degrees from the column 40.

In the illustrated column tree design, the moment connection 42 allows for better transference of seismic loading in the tower 10, and removes the need for the traditional cross bracing 22 currently seen in the industry. Fewer members and connections are required than the traditional design, which desirably makes installation quicker and easier. Lateral loads are resisted by means of frame action providing for no need for diagonal braces 22 designed to take these loads.

The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

At least the following is claimed:
 1. A material handling tower in which at least a portion of the tower is constructed without diagonal cross braces, the portion of the tower comprising: a plurality of vertical column trees forming corners of the tower, each of the plurality of column trees forming a moment connection comprising a pair of stub connectors, wherein the stub connectors are perpendicular and extend in a direction of an adjacent column tree of the plurality of column trees, and each stub connector has a proximal end welded to the column tree and a distal end having a connecting plate; and at least one interior platform connecting to the plurality of column trees, wherein each of the at least one interior platforms comprises a plurality of outer girders with said outer girders connected to the stub connectors of the moment connections, wherein each girder has a connecting plate at each of its ends and each of the moment connections is completed by connecting the connecting plate of the stub connectors to the connecting plate of the girder.
 2. A method for constructing a material handling tower in which at least a portion of the tower is constructed without diagonal cross braces, the method comprising: forming a plurality of vertical column trees at the corners of a tower, each of the plurality of column trees forming a moment connection comprising a pair of stub connectors, wherein the stub connectors are perpendicular and extend in a direction of an adjacent column tree of the plurality of column trees, and each stub connector having a proximal end welded to the column tree and a distal end having a connecting plate, the plurality of moment connections on the plurality of column trees forming at least one platform connection site; forming at least one interior platform at a location remote from the platform connection site, wherein the at least one interior platform comprises a plurality of outer girders, wherein each girder has a connecting plate at each of its ends; lifting the at least one interior platform to the at least one platform connection site so that each one of the connecting plates of the stub connectors is adjacent to one of the connecting plates of the girders; and completing the moment connections by connecting said connecting plates of the stub connectors to adjacent connecting plates of the girders. 